Springfield Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents are terrifying experiences, especially if they result in painful injuries leaving your future uncertain. It’s even more distressing when the accident happened through no fault of your own but because of another driver’s careless or reckless actions behind the wheel. If you’ve suffered a serious car accident in Springfield and you are facing significant physical and financial consequences, these consequences are your “damages” in a car accident claim against the responsible party. You don’t have to be responsible for the economic damages of your accident on top of enduring physical and emotional injuries. Call Miller & Hine Attorneys at Law to stand by your side and demand financial accountability.

Why Hire Miller & Hine as Your Car Accident Attorneys In Springfield?

A car accident can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Undertaking a complex legal process may seem insurmountable while you’re dealing with pressing physical consequences, medical procedures, and temporary or permanent disability. Insurance companies may capitalize on your vulnerability. By putting your trust in the Springfield personal injury lawyers at Miller & Hine, your case has the following advantages:

• No upfront costs to you. Instead, we offer free case evaluations and contingency-based payment so we only collect a fee after we obtain your settlement or court award
• Over 50 years of experience, knowledge, and resources behind your claim
• An attorney dedicated to personalizing a strategy that aligns with your desired outcome
• The resources and collaborative minds of an entire legal team behind your claim

We have a history of notable results for our clients, including a recent $610,000 recovery for a Missouri car accident victim.

Car Accident Injuries Common In Springfield Missouri Car Accident Claims

The crash force of a car accident is stronger than most people can imagine. According to crash force calculations, a 125-pound person becomes a 6,875-pound force in a collision at 55 miles per hour. A collision occurs inside the body as well as outside the car as organs and bones collide. This occurs while the structure of the car collapses inward, often causing blunt-force trauma to the victim. Common car accident injuries in Springfield accident claims include:

• Traumatic brain injuries ranging from mild concussions to severe diffuse axonal injury with permanent impairment
• Fractures of the limbs, hips, ribs, pelvis, clavicle, or vertebrae
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Soft-tissue damage such as sprains or torn ligaments
• Internal bleeding
• Internal organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Facial and dental trauma
• Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
• Traumatic limb loss
• Wrongful death

Even mild injuries are expensive to treat and cause lost wages and pain. More serious or catastrophic injuries are often life-altering with adverse impacts on all aspects of life.

Common Causes of Car Accidents In Springfield

We’ve all heard that “accidents happen every day” but when they happen to you, it quickly becomes personal. Common causes of Missouri car accidents include the following:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Aggressive driving
• Traffic violations
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Improper passing
• Unsafe lane changes
• Tailgating
• Improper merging
• Drunk driving
• Fatigued driving

Under Missouri’s pure comparative negligence law, an investigation assigns a percentage of fault to each involved driver in an accident. An injury victim may recover compensation for their damages even if they contributed to the accident; however, the insurance company subtracts their percentage of fault. For example, if the insurance adjuster finds you 25% responsible for the accident, they can reduce a $100,000 claim to a $75,000 payout. Without legal representation, the insurance company may take advantage of this law by shifting liability to you.

Proving Liability In a Missouri Car Accident Case

Because an insurance company focuses on protecting its profits, it often takes advantage of comparative negligence, especially while injury victims are still reeling from an accident and more likely to accept a low settlement. When you have the proactive protection of a car accident lawyer fighting for your best interests, they perform an investigation to prove the other driver’s liability. This requires showing strong evidence of the following:

• That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to others on the road
• They breached this duty by driving negligently or recklessly
• Their breach of duty caused the accident and your injuries
• You suffered damages from the injury

In some cases, other entities could have contributed to the accident, leaving them liable or partly liable for your damages. For instance, a negligent road maintenance crew or a city road planning agency that created a dangerous intersection. If your seatbelt didn’t lock or your airbags failed to deploy, an experienced car accident attorney pursues all avenues available to maximize your compensation.

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Springfield Car Accident Claim?

When medical bills pile up at the same time you’re unable to return to work, it’s an unsettling feeling. Often, the entire family feels the burden of serious injuries due to income loss and a family member who suddenly needs care rather than caring for their family’s needs. A successful car accident claim can’t erase the injury but it can recover compensation for common damages such as:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Past and future income loss
• Diminished future earning capacity
• Out-of-pocket costs
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Compensation for other non-economic damages that might apply in your case such as loss of limb, disfigurement, the loss of one of the senses, or diminished quality of life

If a loved one died in a car accident in Springfield or the surrounding Missouri area, a wrongful death claim could recover additional damages for close family members.

How Does a Missouri Car Accident Case Work?

After an accident, the involved drivers report the accident to their insurance companies who investigate the accident. They determine the cause of the accident and each driver’s percentage of responsibility. One driver may be solely to blame or both may have contributed to the accident. Your attorney will navigate your car accident claim by doing the following:

• Doing a deep-dive investigation into the accident to determine the cause
• Documenting compelling evidence of the other driver’s liability
• Calculating your damages to maximize the compensation available to you
• Send a demand package to the insurance company
• Negotiate with the insurance adjuster to achieve the largest possible settlement for your damages
• Take your case to court if the insurance company wrongfully denies your claim or undervalues its value

Most car accident claims end with a settlement, but if your case requires court, your attorney from Miller & Hine will ensure that you are well-prepared. Fortunately, juries tend to sympathize with injury victims.

Reach Out to the Car Accident Attorneys In Springfield

Instead of managing a complex claim process against a defendant and their insurance company without legal counsel safeguarding your rights, call Miller & Hine for the experienced representation that gets results. You deserve strong, assertive legal representation behind your claim and the best possible outcome in your case.